US President, Joe Biden has made clear his position clear after observing that Russia “will move in” to Ukraine, citing existential concerns by the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, but says Russia will regret every step of the way they take, facing consequences if they invade their neighbour. He continued that Russia won’t find it easy with the disaster if they cross the lines.
This comes as Ukraine and Russian officials have been meeting with Biden’s top diplomat as Russian troops amass on the country’s border. Russia has also deployed thousands of troops to Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine too.
Biden vowed serious economic consequences on Russia should Putin send his troops over the frontier, including restricting its financial transitions in US dollars, he suggested Western nations were not in agreement on what to do should Russia carry out a much smaller violation of Ukraine’s territory.
“It’s one thing if it’s a minor incursion and we end up having to fight about what to do and not do,” Biden told reporters at an East Room news conference on Wednesday, January 19.
“But if they actually do what they’re capable of doing with the forces amassed on the border, it is going to be a disaster for Russia if they further invade Ukraine.”
Later, asked to clarify what he meant by “minor incursion,” Biden said he drew the line at “Russian forces crossing the border, killing Ukrainian fighters” “I think that changes everything,” Biden said.
“But it depends on what he does, to what extent we’ll get total unity on the NATO front.”
“It’s very important that we keep everyone in NATO on the same page. That’s what I’m spending a lot of time doing, and there are differences,” he went on.
“There are differences in NATO as to what countries are willing to do, depending on what happens.”
The White House tried to explain Biden’s remarks by pointing out a Russian attack in cyberspace or through paramilitary forces would prompt a reciprocal response compared to a scenario where Russian troops move from their positions into Ukraine.
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